Monday, March 18, 2024

Preventing Breast Cancer

The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can carry certain mutation which can increase a women's susceptibility of getting breast cancer by 80%. After finding out that their likeliness of getting breast cancer are up 80% some have an option of a mastectomy which removes the breasts and can prevent the diseases by 90%. In the study they followed the data of 1,600 women with the BRCA genes from 9 countries. Half of the women got mastectomies and half did not. Of the half that did go through with the mastectomy there were 20 cases of breast cancer and 2 deaths. However, of the half who did not get the mastectomy there were 100 cases of breast cancer and 7 deaths. 

In my opinion I think it is great that women have the option and ability to chose whether or not they receive a mastectomy. It does make me wonder in the future if there would be anything genetically we could figure out instead of having women either get a mastectomy or have an 80% chance of getting breast cancer. Overall, I'm glad that they can catch it early in some cases now within an individuals genes and hope that it keeps saving lives in the process.


Link: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-02-20/preventive-mastectomies-may-save-lives-of-women-with-breast-cancer-genes

Additional Link: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20352470



Genetically Vegetarian?

 It was discovered that a large number of Americans, 48% to 64%, that identify as vegetarian are still found to be consuming poultry, fish and/or red meat. New research suggested that it came down to one's DNA, and findings point to three particular genes that seem to be strongly linked to vegetarianism. To research this, scientists had to compare the impact of genes on eating patterns, comparing strict vegetarians to non-vegetarians (control group). These scientists discovered that there are potentially 31 genes associated. Several of these discovered genes were found to be involved in the metabolism of fat and/or brain function. It is speculated that there is a need for lipid components in non-vegetarians, suggesting that those who are vegetarian have no need for these components and are able to synthesize them endogenously. 

I think these findings are really interesting in that vegetarianism could be genetically linked. I expected the research to be about environmental changes that would affect one's decision of being vegetarian. Such as the lone star tick which makes the person bitten develop an allergy to alpha-gal, allergy towards red meat. However, it is interesting that there are possibly genes that make a person favor vegetarianism. It also makes perfect sense, especially if it is based on lipid components and what some people may or may not be able to synthesize. 



Sunday, March 17, 2024

Penicillium Camemberti, will brie cheese go extinct?

    For many people, brie cheese is an essential element of their charcuterie boards. Recognizable by its signature white rind, this cheese owes its distinctive appearance to a particular type of mold: Penicillium Camemberti. This mold, utilized by cheese makers for generations, not only impacts the characteristic hue but also has the fascinating ability to generate a spectrum of colors, including blue, green, and orange.

    However, concerns loom over the future of brie cheese due to its limited genetic diversity. Penicillium Camemberti lacks the capacity for sexual reproduction, necessitating its cloning for cheese production. Unfortunately, this cloning process results in a lack of genetic variation, rendering the strain vulnerable to potential threats such as diseases. The possibility of an entire strain being wiped out is a real fear, potentially depriving us of the beloved white-rinded brie cheese.

        Yet, this dire scenario has not yet come to pass. Researchers are actively engaging in finding solutions to safeguard the future of brie cheese. Their work underscores the critical importance of genetic diversity, which serves as the foundation of our existence and the rich histories embedded within the foods we cherish. It is the backbone behind everything, why we are here, and the history behind the foods we all have grown to love. 

Gene Therapy for High Cholesterol

 In 2023, two new gene therapies for high cholesterol were researched and found promising results. One of these therapies involved the gene-editing that targets the PCSK9 gene, this approach would make a small change in the gene. This editing would delete the gene's ability to charge a rise in the cholesterol levels. From extensive research, in theory, this would be a one time treatment that would last a lifetime. The second treatment focused on a particular type of cholesterol [lipoprotein(a)], which is a genetic condition, therefore diet and exercise would not make a difference. The study uses a drug called lipodisiran, which targets the mRNA. This targeted mRNA tells the body to produce Lp(a), but it is this drug that shuts down that process. Of course, there still needs to be more trials for both of these therapies, as they are new and had only a small sample size. 

In the United States many people face high cholesterol, whether it be from birth, genetic, or through their diet. If the situations are bad enough, diet and exercise can only go so far and the statins that they are prescribed might become too mild for their levels. Having these intense therapies would help millions of people, not only in America, but also all around the world. Dietary health is very important to a human being's wellness. Having a balanced diet can aid in other health problems and potentially prevent some. 



Saturday, March 16, 2024

How Fish Might Save Your Heart

 Families that have a history of heart disease may benefit from eating more oily fish, which include salmon, mackerel, herring, and sardines. These oily fish contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, these cannot be produced by the body and therefore have to be obtained through the diet. Studies showed that individuals that had low levels of omega-3s were at a higher risk for heart disease. Those that presented higher levels of omega-3 were at less of a risk for heart disease. The prevention of diseases could be attained through a healthy lifestyle in some circumstances, there is no guarantee of this, but it could decrease the likelihood. These fatty acids have been linked to a stronger immune system, reduced inflammation, lower blood pressure, and improved cholesterol counts. 

Any ways to find preventions or lowering the risks of disease of any sort is very crucial. Based on this, someone had the risk, or already presented with, higher blood pressure and higher cholesterol, along with the risk of heart disease, this prevention supplement could help them in their daily life. This would be a beneficial way to take out a few of those concerns, or at least reduce them. 



Friday, March 15, 2024

New Approach to Fight HIV

 mRNAs were found to be valuable in the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers used the knowledge that they had from mRNAs and found that siRNAs are also a valuable tool in genetics. These siRNAs, or small interfering RNAs, regulate which genes or proteins are turned on or off in our cells. It was discovered that these showed a 73% reduction in HIV replication. HIV has two important aspects to it, Nef, a protein that prevents cells from activating autophagy, and CCR5, a gene that allows the virus to enter the cell. It would be these siRNAs that would target both Nef and CCR5 to help reduce the HIV replication. This particular form of gene therapy would be applied vaginally and the siRNAs would only release once inside the cells. 

This is truly an important breakthrough in medicine, as HIV has been a problem for many years now. With new knowledge and new ways to test pharmaceuticals, we can hopefully reach a cure soon. While this article talks about the female treatment, it leaves out any discoveries on male treatment for this disease. Both male and female populations are at risk for HIV and should both be studied and tested for treatments and cures. If they found that siRNAs can be used for HIV treatment in females, shouldn't it be possible for treatment in males?



Is A.I. Our Future?

Scientists have started to work on making programs that can make sense of data from cells atlases which are like catalogs of data from different cells. An A.I. program called GeneFormer, which was made by a computational biologist was fed data of 30 million cells. The scientist tested heart cells from individuals with abnormal heartbeat rhythms and GeneFormer was able to recommend the reduction of activity in 4 genes that previously have not been related to heart disease. When the genes activity were reduced 2/4 of the cases had improvements in the cell activity. This caught the attention of Stanford who then built CellXGene which is one of the biggest databases of cells of 33 million. This program made a Universal Cell Embedding which grouped cells into clusters of how genes were used. Other scientists believe this can create the correct representation of a cell and even predict what a cell would do in any situation. In order to keep this from turning into a risk there was a signed call for technology to be regulated so no biological weapons could be made.

In my opinion I think this is how we can advance our understanding of life. I think A.I. could be extremely helpful or the worst thing that will happen. However, if we keep it regulated to do no harm I believe this could help us battle many types of diseases and issues of the human body as well as other species. 


Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/10/science/ai-learning-biology.html?searchResultPosition=8

Additional Link: https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/09/19/1079261/czi-ai-cell-disease/

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Genes are Key to Oral Health & Beyond


In a groundbreaking study encompassing over half a million participants, researchers embarked on a quest to unravel the intricate relationship between genetics and dental health. This study, published in Nature Communications and backed by data from sources like as the UK Biobank and the Gene-Lifestyle Interactions in Dental Endpoints consortium, supported by NIDCR, revealed 47 distinct genetic loci intricately linked to dental caries. Remarkably, among these findings were not only reaffirmations of previously known genetic influencers of dental health but also the discovery of novel genetic factors shaping oral well-being.Beyond its genetic revelations, the study uncovered compelling associations between dental health and a myriad of lifestyle factors, including smoking habits, educational attainment, and personality traits. Furthermore, intriguing connections emerged between oral health and systemic metrics such as cardiovascular and metabolic parameters, unveiling the profound interconnectedness between oral and overall health. I chose this article because among my generation, there has definitely been an uptick in individuals who receive veneers, which are fake teeth. Formerly used as replacement teeth, veneers are typically yellow to match existing teeth in a person's mouth. However, I noticed that a lot of the people nowadays with the veneers not only do an entire teeth replacement, but they end up choosing the straightest, whitest and overall most until set of teeth they could find. I always have wondered how bad their teeth could've been to drive them to make such a drastic change to their appearance. This article shows how so many genes come into play regarding how some peoples' teeth are. I liked this article because it highlights the reasons why someones teeth can become so damaged and how taking good care of your teeth and just your mouth in general can improve your quality of life. 


Sources

1. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/news-events/nidcr-news/2019/genes-are-key-oral-health-beyond

2. https://www.queencreekcompletedental.com/blog/2021/08/20/can-bad-teeth-run-in-the-family/